eHomes director admits 19 fraud offences: landlords should check deposit protection records and client money controls

Victoria Steele, a director of eHomes, formerly Prestige Properties Ltd, has pleaded guilty to 19 charges of fraud by false representation after dishonestly taking £47,685 from landlords and tenants. The offences ran from November 2011 to June 2018. The company closed in 2018 and was dissolved in April 2019. Sentencing is listed for 1 September 2026. Those facts are confirmed; the wider lesson for landlords is about controls around deposits, rent collection and agent oversight.

If your agent handled a deposit, keep three records ready

If a letting agent has handled a tenant’s deposit or collected rent on your behalf, you should be able to produce three items promptly:

• the tenancy deposit protection certificate or scheme reference
• the Prescribed Information served on the tenant
• a client account statement showing receipt and transfer of funds

If you cannot produce all three, there may be a compliance or recovery issue, even where the tenancy is historic.

Deposit protection rules: confirm the dates and paperwork

Under the Housing Act 2004, deposits taken for most assured shorthold tenancies in England must be protected in a government-authorised tenancy deposit scheme, and the tenant must be given the Prescribed Information within the legal deadline. If your records are incomplete, verify the current requirements directly with the relevant scheme and review your file tenancy by tenancy.

For each current tenancy, ask your managing agent for:

• the scheme ID or reference
• the date the deposit was protected
• the amount protected
• a copy of the Prescribed Information

Former eHomes or Prestige Properties clients should reconcile old files now

If you used eHomes or Prestige Properties, do not wait for the September 2026 sentencing date before checking your own records. Reconcile:

• historic rent schedules
• tenancy agreements
• deposit receipts
• check-in paperwork
• bank statements from the relevant period

Because the company was dissolved in April 2019, recovering complete records may become harder over time. If your file is incomplete, compare your own bank records and tenancy documents against what tenants paid and what the agent reported.

Why this matters in London portfolios

Deposit sums in London can be substantial. On a tenancy at £2,000 per month, a five-week deposit is about £2,307. At £3,000 per month, it is about £3,461. A single missing or unprotected deposit can therefore become a meaningful loss before legal costs or any tenant claim are considered.

For portfolio landlords, the risk scales quickly. If one agent process is weak, the same reporting or reconciliation failure may affect multiple tenancies at once.

Check client money protection and accounting controls

Landlords using any agent, not just eHomes, should check whether the firm holds Client Money Protection (CMP) where legally required. Ask for the following in writing:

• the CMP certificate
• the membership number
• evidence of the firm’s client account controls
• details of any recent audit or accountant’s review, if available

If an agent delays, resists or sends only partial records, treat that as a warning sign rather than an administrative slip.

Tighten your agency terms

Your terms of business with the agent should require:

• monthly client money statements
• separate accounting for rent and deposits
• a written reporting timetable
• a named contact for escalation where figures do not reconcile

For larger portfolios, it may also be sensible to require an independent review of client account reporting and a defined threshold for escalation, such as £500 or one month’s rent.

If you suspect missing money

If you suspect missing rent, missing deposit funds or false statements, report the matter promptly to your local police force and obtain a crime reference number. You may also wish to notify your insurer and seek legal advice on possible civil recovery options. Depending on the facts, concerns may also be reported to Trading Standards.

A guilty plea does not by itself guarantee that funds will be recovered, so act on the records you can secure now rather than assumptions about repayment later.

Keep tenants informed if a historic issue emerges

If you uncover a possible deposit or rent irregularity, tell the tenant:

• what you know so far
• what you are checking
• when you will update them next

Clear communication can prevent a records problem becoming a wider complaint or court dispute.

Three actions to take this week

Within 48 hours: request deposit certificates, Prescribed Information and the last 12 months of client account statements for every live tenancy your agent manages.

Within 7 days: reconcile one sample month of rent received against tenancy agreements and bank receipts. If you own more than five properties, test at least 25% of the portfolio.

Within 14 days: update your agency terms so CMP evidence, access to supporting records and monthly reconciliations are mandatory.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.